Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-1-2026 — The Archers (Ten Questions)

1st January, 2026: The Archers.

Right, then: it’s a refreshing start for a whole new year.

At least … we can … if we’re wearing clothes.

Going by the BBC’s weather site?

And a quick check outside?

My home town’s looking, and feeling, cold.

I should be grateful, though.

And old friend lives in southern Finland.

Apparently, it was -17°C, last night.

I should be grateful for heating … 

~≈❄️≈~

Or payments … 

UK benefit claimants had a bit of news, a day or two, ago.

Seemingly?

We should get a cold weather payment of twenty-five pounds: if the overnight weather stays under 0° for seven days in a row.

Assuming the boiler holds out?

I have enough on my meter to survive.

But … ?

I hot the weather holds out: that cash could coming in handy.

~≈💰≈~

I’m a big one for the macOS platform: you’ve possibly worked that out, over the years.

And mostly had a ok time with the platform.

Since the installation of an updated version of the operating system — macOS Tahoe 26·1, to be precise — I’ve notice overheating issues: that seem to be linked to having one or more Pages documents, open.

Linked to processes that Activity Monitor lists as ‘kernel_task’ and ‘corespotlightd’.

Checking with Apple’s support wasn’t helpful: beyond identifying that Pages seemed to be causing the issue, neither was asking on Apple’s support community.

Neither was Macworld’s article on the problem: they’s seemingly simple fix didn’t work.

Quite what’s going on … ?

I don’t know.

But I think it’s something Apple need to sort out: the opinions of a few people I’ve talked to is that it’s an issue with Pages.

And that it’s something Apple needs to sort out.

~≈🍎≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-10-2025 — The Today Programme

28th October, 2025: The Today Programme.

Hmmm … that could’ve come at a better time … 

I’ve got Venetian blinds in my flat.

And have one on my front room window, one that’s been here, ever since I’ve moved in.

Quite an expensive one, if I remember rightly … !

At any rate … ?

The string pulley, the thing that adjusts how open the individual slats are … has given up the ghost.

Which means … ?

Well, I’m going to have to:

• Stay in the dark until I raise the money.
• Ask my increasingly tall nephew to help me put a new one up.
• Be thankful it’s not stuck in ‘Open’.
• Marvel at the price differences on Amazon!

Yep: there’s price differences.

A good set of replacement blinds, ones that will last as long as the current ones, cost upwards of ninety pounds.

An affordable set, one that will last about five minutes?

Around twenty.

Frankly?

It’s Commander Vimes’ Boots, again …

~≈🥾≈~

Oh … I mentioned, a few days ago, that my Work Coach — my case worker from the Job Centre — had been replaced: by a trainee!

That rookie worker has now been in touch: and we have a phone meeting scheduled for today.

At 14:30.

I’d’ve been happier had it been by video: I’d get to see what they look like.

But … ?

I’ll get by with an audio call.

~≈🥾≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-2-2025 — Radio Waves

13th February, 2025: Radio Waves.

Right, then: it’s official Thursday … and … ?

I’m due a repair man: to fix the cupboard doors, under the kitchen sink.

Hopefully?

He’s quick!

~≈🔧≈~

Yesterday … ?

I had a video appointment with my Job centre case worker.

Which went well enough.

My one big worry about the thing … ?

Was simply the technology: would it work … ?

It did … thankfully.

So that means I can have the next meetings by video.

Which certainly helps the knees … !

~≈🦵≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 29-1-2025 — Desert Island Discs.

29th January, 2025: Desert Island Discs.

Right … I think I’ve blown my diet!

At any rate, I’ve eaten a take-away pizza with my nephew, Jude.

We had an entertaining evening: and potato wedges.

Jude managed put in an impressive score on a pinball game I have.

And made another video … !

Feel free to press the Like button!

~≈🎮≈~

I’ve talked, over the past couple of days, of how modern streaming services means you don’t own the digital film you’ve just bought.

But can and do own versions if they’re on physical media: DVD, blu-ray, VHS, CD, what-have-you.

And — in the discussions with regular readers, since? — noticed that both Olga and Debbi generally agree it’s not the best situation.

With that in mind?

And even given I have privately-made digital copies?

I’ve managed to buy DVD copies* of three Dr Who stories: An Unearthly Child, Terror of the Zygons and The Seeds of Doom, as these are not, currently, available to stream in the UK.

Hopefully?

I won’t need to buy more.

~≈📀≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 30-10-2022 — Panic on the Radio.

30th October, 2022.

Yay!

The clocks have gone back: an hour.

Which is welcome, frankly.

It meant I got an extra hour’s sleep, this morning.

It’s welcome … because I was up late: finishing a review of another episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds.

If you get the chance to watch the episode in question?

Please do: I think it will repay you.

~≈🖖≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-10-2022 — The BBC.

18th October, 2022.

Right … 

I’m up early.

Because?

I’ve got a hygienist’s appoint, today: one that’s comparatively early.

So, if I sound rushed?

That’s why!

~≈Û≈~

Rushed?

Doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t read the news: nor unaware of things I’ve written.

Including the piece I did for Phoenix FM, about digital poverty.

I’m also aware I’ve taken advantage of the BT Home Basics tariff: the one they make available to those of us on benefits.

Which was something I’ve highlighted in the article.

So?

This piece from the BBC’s site caught my eye.

It tells us the telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has criticised the industry: for not promoting the social tariffs it requires companies to have.

Given I found no companies — bar BT — with these tariffs?   Tariffs they could sell to those of us in need?

The fact they’re not promoting ones they have — if they have any, at all? — isn’t surprising.

The more things change?   The more they stay the same …

~≈Û≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-2-2020: Radio Daze

13th February, 2020.

You know, job hunting’s starting to pall.

Really!

Right now, I’m obviously blogging.

But, frankly?

I’m doing a lot of thumb twiddling!

~≈¥≈~

One thing I do know?

Is I managed to finish Orwell’s The Lion and The Unicorn, last night.

That?   Is quite the read!

I know it sounds strange: especiallly if — like Old Peculiar regular, Debbi Mack — you have a To Be Read pile the size of Chelmsford.

But if you want a good example of of how to write well in English, The Lion and The Unicorn is possibly it.

And … ?   I’m no expert, but think Eric Arthur Blair possibly knew a thing or two.

“The heirs of Nelson and of Cromwell are not in the House of Lord.   They are in the fields and the streets, in the factories and the armed forces, in the four-ale bar and the suburban back-garden: and at present, they are being kept under by an army of ghosts.”

I think … I’ll be keeping The Lion and The Unicorn close at hand.

~≈¥≈~

The Daily Teaser — 12-12-2014: Radio, Radio … !

You know, I REALLY think I’ve got to see a doctor.

Or, at least, slow down on the beans!

No, really … !

I don’t know quite what’s going on, down there: but I’ve got one hell of a case of the farts, just recently!

To the point where, quite frankly, I’m half expecting a sound effects crew to turn up, and start recording!

That’s … 

Well

Awkward … !

~≈†≈~

The Daily Teaser — 29-7-2013: The Light Programme

Oh, bless … !

Bless her, an old friend, Sarah — Kevin D’s wife, if you’re wondering — managed to tip me off about a possibly local job.

I’m not going to get TOO excited.

But I HAVE managed to send in my CV, already.

And … ?    And I’m also happy to say the job’s local enough that I can walk to the High Street and pop a copy in, in person.

Here’s hoping I get a result from that … !

And remind me to give Sarah a big ‘Thank You’ for the lead.

~≈Ø≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with admitting you can’t win them all, she also bagged four out of five.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s Teaser: here it is, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 29th July, saw the launch of the BBC Light Programme: in which year … ?

Q2) The Light Programme is now known as which Radio Station … ?

Q3) Which Dr Who actor famously appeared in Light Programme comedy, The Navy Lark … ?

Q4) The world’s longest running soap-opera — in any format — has its national origins on the BBC Light Programme.   What’s that soap opera’s name … ?

Q5) Finally … the Light Programme ceased broadcasting in September of which year … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 28th July, 1914, saw the Austro-Hungarian Empire declare war on Serbia: after whose assassination … ?

A1) Arch Duke Franz Ferdinard’s.

Q2) 28th July, 1948, saw the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad foil a bullion robbery: what’s the rhyming slang term for the squad … ?

A2) The Sweeney: or Sweeney Todd.

Q3) 28th July, 2000, saw the last terrorist released from the Maze Prison: what name was given to the notorious blocks many of them were held in … ?

A3) The H-blocks.

Q4) 28th July, 1974, saw the founding of Spetsgruppa A: a special forces platoon in which country … ?

A4) The USSR.

Q5) Finally … 28th July, 1955, saw the first World Conference devoted to which artificial language … ?

A5) Interlingua.

Enjoy those: I’ll leave you with this memo from the BBC … 

“ … a popular but not rubbishy programme for the masses designed to be effective in competition with neighbouring sponsored stations.”

Internal BBC memorandum about the Light Programme’s launch.

And with the theme tune to Music While You Work, one of the Light Programme’s best loved shows … 

Have a good day … 

*        Very true, Debbi, very true … !   (Oh, and it was Interlingua, I’m afraid.   It could’ve been worse, it could’ve been Klingon … !)